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PART IX.

WITHDRAWAL OF THE AMERICAN MINISTER FROM

BELGIUM.

Statement given to the press March 24, 1917.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, March 24, 1917.

By direction of the President the Minister at Brussels has been instructed to withdraw from Belgium, with all diplomatic and consular officers, and take up his official residence at Havre.

After consultation with the Commission for Relief in Belgium, Mr. Whitlock has also been instructed to arrange for the departure of the American members of the Commission.

This step, the seriousness of which is fully appreciated by the Government, was taken only after careful consideration and full consulation with all the interests involved.

When diplomatic relations with Germany were broken off the normal procedure would have been to withdraw the Minister at Brussels and the American members of the Relief Commission. Both this Government and the Commission, however, felt a heavy moral responsibility for the millions of innocent civilians behind the German lines, and it was decided that the work of the Commission must be kept going despite all difficulties until continued American participation became impossible. For over two years it has been the single-minded purpose of this Government and the Commission to see that these ten millions of civilians were fed, and, with this end in view, the Americans concerned have submitted to restrictions imposed on them by the German authorities which, under ordinary conditions, would never have been tolerated.

Immediately after the break in relations the German authorities in Brussels withdrew from Mr. Whitlock the diplomatic privileges

and immunities which he had until that time enjoyed. His courier service to The Hague was stopped; he was denied the privilege of communicating with the Department of State in cipher, and later even in plain language. The members of the Relief Commission were placed under great restrictions of movement and communication which hampered the efficient performance of their task. In spite of all these difficulties the Government and Commission were determined to keep the work going till the last possible moment.

Now, however, a more serious difficulty has arisen. In the course of the past 10 days several of the Commission's ships have been attacked without warning by German submarines in flagrant violation of the solemn engagements of the German Government. Protests addressed by this Government to Berlin through the intermediary of the Spanish Government have not been answered. The German Government's disregard of its written undertakings causes grave concern as to the future of the relief work. In any event it is felt that the American staff of the Commission can no longer serve with advantage in Belgium. Although a verbal promise has been made that the members of the Commission would be permitted to leave if they so desire, the German Government's observance of its other undertakings has not been such that the department would feel warranted in accepting responsibility for leaving these American citizens in German-occupied territory.

This Government has approved the proposal of the Netherlands Government to send into Belgium a certain number of Netherlands subjects to carry on the work thus far performed by the American. staff.

PART X.

PEACE OVERTURES OF THE CENTRAL POWERS AND REPLY OF ENTENTE POWERS.

Chargé Grew to the Secretary of State.

[Telegram.]

AMERICAN EMBASSY, BERLIN, December 12, 1916.

Following is the official French translation of the peace communication handed to me by the Chancellor this morning, which I am now able to telegraph en clair, as the exact text has now been published.

BERLIN, December 12, 1916.

MR. CHARGE D'AFFAIRES: The most formidable war known to history has been ravaging for two and a half years a great part of the world. That catastrophe, that the bonds of common civilization more than a thousand years old could not stop, strikes mankind in its most precious patrimony; it threatens to bury under its ruins the moral and physical progress on which Europe prided itself at the dawn of the twentieth century. In that strife Germany and her allies-Austra-Hungary, Bulgaria, and Turkey-have given proof of their indestructible strength in winning considerable successes at war. Their unshakable lines resist ceaseless attacks of their enemies' arms. The recent diversion in the Balkans was speedily and victoriously thwarted. The latest events have demonstrated that a continuation of the war can not break their resisting power. The general situation much rather justifies their hope of fresh successes. It was for the defense of their existence and freedom of their national development that the four Allied Powers were constrained to take up arms. The exploits of their armies have brought no change therein. Not for an instant have they swerved from the conviction that the respect of the rights of the other nations is not in any degree incompatible with their own rights and legitimate interests. They do not seek to crush or annihilate their adversaries. Conscious of their

military and economic strength and ready to carry on to the end, if they must, the struggle that is forced upon them, but animated at the same time by the desire to stem the flood of blood and to bring the horrors of war to an end, the four Allied Powers propose to enter even now into peace negotiations. They feel sure that the propositions which they would bring forward and which would aim to assure the existence, honor, and free development of their peoples, would be such as to serve as a basis for the restoration of a lasting peace.

If notwithstanding this offer of peace and concilation the struggle should continue, the four Allied Powers are resolved to carry it on to a victorious end, while solemnly disclaiming any responsibility before mankind and history.

The Imperial Government has the honor to ask through your obliging medium the Government of the United States to be pleased to transmit the present communication to the Government of the French Republic, to the Royal Government of Great Britian, to the Imperial Government of Japan, to the Royal Government of Roumania, to the Imperial Government of Russia, and to the Royal Government of Servia.

I take this opportunity to renew to you, Mr. Chargé d'Affaires, the assurance of my high consideration.

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Constantinople, December 12, 1916.

Mr. Elkus reports receipt of note from Turkish Minister for Foreign Affairs as follows:

MR. AMBASSADOR:

The most formidable war known to history has for the last two years and a half been ravaging a large part of the world. This catastrophe, which the bonds of a common civilization of more than a thousand years have been unable to prevent, affects the most precious heritage of humanity: It threatens to engulf in its ruins the moral and material progress of which Europe prided itself in the beginning of the twentieth century.

In this struggle the Ottoman Empire and its allies, Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Bulgaria, have given proof of their indestructible force by gaining notable successes over their numerically superior adversaries. Their unshakable lines resist the unceasing attacks of the armies of their enemies. The recent attempts in the Balkans have been rapidly and victoriously checked. The latest events have shown that the continuation of the war could not break the force of their resistance. On the contrary the general situation entitles them to hope for fresh successes. It was to defend their existence and the freedom of their national development that the four Allied Powers were obliged to take up arms. The exploits of their armies have changed nothing in this respect. Not for one moment did they depart from the conviction that to respect the rights of other nations is by no means incompatible with their own rights and legitimate interests. They do not seek to crush or annihilate their adversaries. Conscious of their military and economic strength and ready if necessary to continue to a finish the struggle which was forced on them, but actuated at the same time by a desire to stop the bloodshed and to put an end to the horrors of the war, the four Allied Powers are now ready to enter into negotiations for peace. They are convinced that the proposals to be advanced by them and which aim to insure the existence, the honor, and the free development of their peoples would be suitable to serve as a basis for the reëstablishment of a durable peace.

If in spite of this offer of peace and conciliation the struggle should continue, the four Allied Powers are determined to prosecute it to a victorious end and solemnly decline all responsibility before humanity and history.

The Imperial Government has the honor to request the Government of the United States through the kind offices of your excellency to be good enough to transmit the present communication to the British, French, Russian, Italian, Belgian, and Servian Governments.

[Signed.]

HALIL. ELKUS.

No. 184.]

Chargé Warfield to the Secretary of State.

AMERICAN LEGATION, Sofia, December 15, 1916.

SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith copy and translation of a note verbale handed to me in person by the Prime Minister at noon on December 12. At his request I communicated the main point of this note by a telegram, copy of which is inclosed, stating that

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